Troops have moved within two miles of Raqqa as part of efforts to recapture the stronghold from ISIS

The Khanaser-Ithriya road is the only government-controlled route linking Aleppo to other government-held cities of western Syria. Sections of the main highway to Aleppo, which runs through western Syria, remain in rebel hands.

The town of Maskaneh is located on the western banks of the River Euphrates in Aleppo province some 10 km from the provincial border with Raqqa.

The next major urban centre to the east is Tabqa, which was captured from IS by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in May.